Avoiding Common Tree Mistakes

Dangers You Run Into When Trimming Trees (And How To Avoid Them)

23 March 2016
by Chiara Brun

Trimming your own trees gives you control over the look and style of your backyard. It also helps you feel like a tough homeowner who can handle their own problems. However, there are a variety of dangers you need to consider whenever you trim your trees and many of these dangers are serious enough to be deadly. Thankfully, it's easy to avoid them if you take a few simple precautions.

Injuries That Plague Tree Trimming

If you aren't careful when you are cutting your trees, you run the risk of falling victim to a wide range of injuries. They can happen any time while you are cutting a tree and range in seriousness. The following are some of the most common tree cutting accidents:

Getting hit by a falling limb

Falling from the tree when safety equipment fails

Touching electrical wires

Getting cut by power tools

Serious eye injuries

Stings and bites from insects

Infected by a poisonous plant

The worst injuries in this list (such as getting cut by power tools or falling from the tree) can be severe enough to cause permanent injure and even death. And even the minor ones (such as getting stung or poked in the eye) may distract you during the trimming process or cause more serious problems, such as allergic reactions to stings.

Avoiding These Dangers

The litany of dangers that can impact tree trimming can make it feel like a hectic activity. However, it's still possible for you to trim your own trees safely by following a few simple protocols. The following steps will help you safely trim your tree:

Tie a rope around each limb you are cutting and have a friend stabilize it on the ground

Inspect your climbing equipment to ensure it is in good shape, especially any climbing items, such as ropes or straps

Use hand tools, instead of power tools, to avoid accidental cuts

Wear goggles whenever you're up in a tree to avoid getting poked in the eye

As for dangers like electrocution, it's best to simply avoid trimming your tree if it is anywhere near electrical wires. While you may only be stunned or injured from touching an electric wire, the potential for death is too strong to risk.

Following these safety tips can help keep you safe when you are trimming your trees. However, if you still feel like this procedure is too dangerous to perform on your own, call a professional like Northern Virginia Tree Experts, Inc.. They can do the hard work for you and may be worth the extra money to ensure your safety.

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About Me

I have always been one of those people who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty, which is why I started trimming my own trees. However, after doing it by myself for a few years, I realized that my yard was starting to look a little DIY, which wasn't the look that I was going for. To make things right, I decided to invest in a professional tree service who could come out and fix up my yard. They were amazing to work with, and they even came with all of their own equipment. This blog is all about the benefits of professional tree care, versus doing things on your own.